Monday, September 22, 2008

 MQM seeks relief for Kurram violence victims
By By Mumtaz Alvi 
9/20/2008
ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) legislator Abbas Komaili on Friday called for emergency relief measures for hundreds of thousands of people stranded in the restive Kurram Agency, affected by the violence that started last year.

Talking to The News, Senator Komaili, who, on several occasions, had raised the burning issue on the floor of the Senate, was concerned about the plight of traumatised women and children and the injured, as there was severe shortage of food items and medicines since long.

He complained that the government was either facing pressure from within or had failed to comprehend the enormity of the human sufferings in Parachinar, where an element, enjoying foreign support, was targeting the local population, consisting of both Sunnis and Shias.

The MQM parliamentarian pointed out that the PML-Q government and then the caretakers, and now the PPP-led ruling coalition had been describing the volatile situation in Parachinar differently. 

Some time, it was termed as a result of infighting, violence between Sunnis and Shias and even a feud between two tribes ie Turi and Bangash.Komaili, who claims to have been in constant touch with some prominent people in Parachinar, said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had promised on the floor of the Senate recently that medicines would be supplied there by helicopters, but, according to his information, there had been no significant progress so far on this count.

He said a well-organised and well-coordinated effort was crucial to alleviate sufferings of the violence-hit population.Parachinar, spread over 1,305 square miles, is the capital of Kurram Agency. It is facing violence for the last 18 months, which has claimed hundreds of lives.

"I just wonder, what really are the causes, which have barred the government from intervening and restoring peace in Kurram Agency. The nation wants to know why no effective corrective measures have been taken," he maintained.

Asked why the incumbent government had so far not been able to restore normalcy, he said that the rulers were primarily engaged in political matters, having hardly any time to address this particular issue.

 

Recovery of kidnapped activists demanded

 Recovery of kidnapped activists demanded
Saturday, September 20, 2008
By our correspondent

PESHAWAR: Activists of the Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) on Friday staged a protest against the killing of fellow students and kidnapping of two others in Khyber Agency.

Chanting slogans and holding placards, the students gathered outside the Peshawar Press Club and demanded of the government to provide security to them. They also voiced their concern over the closure of the Tall-Parachinar Road for more than a year and asked the government to take effective measures for opening the road for general traffic. 

The protesting students said unknown persons had kidnapped three activists of ISO from Khyber Agency and later killed one of them. They said the government had failed to maintain its writ and provide security to people. They demanded the government to take effective steps for safe recovery of the two kidnapped students.


The NEWS International
Monday, September 22, 2008,
Ramazan 21, 1429 A.H

ISO condemns killing of students F.P. Report

ISO condemns killing of students F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Condemning the killing of students of Parachinar in Khyber Agency, activists of Imamia Students Organization (ISO) Peshawar Chapter staged a protest demonstration, outside Peshawar Press Club, here on Friday, and demanded of the government and political administration to immediately take in to task involved people of incident. The protest was led by ISO Peshawar divisional General secretary Muhammad Saqib, and Muhammad Ali, along with score of activists and others students. The activists were holding placards and banners inscribed slogans against the killing of student Naeem and in favour of their demands. The also raised full-throated slogans against the political administration and government, which failed to provide protection to the civilians in particular students from Parachinar. While addressed the gathering, the ISO Chief Muhammad Ali has said that the Naeem had been taken admission in Electronic Technology, under FATA scholarship program in Peshawar. Since, half a year, he said that the Parachinar road had been remained close due to extremists elements in the areas, while the local have facing numerous difficulties to travel other parts of the province, adding that they were traveling via Khyber Agency to Peshawar, instead of main Parachinar road. He further said that two people from Parachinar had been abducted by some miscreant elements via traveling Landi Kotal, out of which Naeem was sustained, injured through bullet and drew him at main Landi Kotal road. The Naeem was rushed to nearby hospital to first aid, where he succumbed to his injuries and died, he added. The activists have demanded of the government, political administration and other high-ups to immediately recover two abducted students and take action against the killers of Naeem. They also demanded that the Parachinar road should be save from the miscreants, who had occupied from half and year and early open it, in order to not happen again such incident in the area. The protesters warned that if the government and political administration fails to meet their demands, they would hold wide spread protest and launch protest campaign against it.

The Frontier Post
Saturday, September 20, 2008,
 Ramadan 19, 1429 A.H.

Kurram clashes continue F.P. Report

Kurram clashes continue F.P. Report
PARACHINAR: Kurram Agency skirmishes continued unabated and the extremists cut off the electricity lines, while the talks between the Jirga members and tribal elders will be held soon. Sources said that clashes between Turi and Mangal tribesmen are continuing since the last eight months in Kurram Agency bordering area Pewar, while the clashes during the last two days left 18 dead and 37 wounded. Turi tribesmen have set one village of Mangal tribe on fire. Political officials said that contingents of paramilitary forces have been posted at the posts in different areas.

Sunday, September 21, 2008,
 Ramadan 20, 1429 A.H.